Squadrito Foods closes, Pacific Health to open

Liverpool  For many years, 207 Oswego St. — which looks more like Old Liverpool Road to me — was the site of Ponderosa Steakhouse. Whenever my brother and his family visited from the West Coast, they’d enjoy digging deeply into Ponderosa’s all-you-can-eat buffet. A few years later, it became Wisteria, a Chinese restaurant, and in 2009 Juanita’s Mexican Kitchen relocated in from Syracuse’s North Side.

Later that same year, another venerable North Side business, Squadrito Foods, moved into a storefront on the west side of the building.

Well, Juanita’s Mexican Kitchen served its last enchilada in April, and Squadrito Foods sold its last sausage Sept. 1. Owners Frances and Vito Cusumano have decided to retire.

Frances’ dad, Frank Squadrito, opened a grocery store on Syracuse’s South Avenue in 1947 before moving the business to 412 Ash St. in 1949. The Squadrito family lived above the Ash Street store until moving their residence to Liverpool in 1977.

Four years ago, Frances and Vito moved the shop to Ponderosa Plaza, but nothing lasts forever.

“After 64 years in business, we want to thank all our loyal customers for all their support throughout the years,” Frances said.

Dozens of treadmills stand ready to roll inside the plate-glass windows at Pacific Health Club at 604 Old Liverpool Road, where Bresee Chevrolet and Burdick Chevrolet stood for decades.

Pacific Health hosted a soft opening at 7 a.m. last Saturday, Aug. 31. A grand opening is planned for mid-September.

Pacific Health Inc. is headquartered at 113 to 119 E. Bridge St. in Oswego. Find them on Facebook, or call the Liverpool club at 396-0455.

Healthy choice?

Back in November 2011, town voters narrowly rejected a proposal that would’ve allowed the town of Salina to buy the old Bresee property to house a new town hall and town highway department. Voters apparently hoped that the property taxes paid by Pacific Health would be a better benefit for town operations.